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The Illinois High School Boys Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held annually in the spring in the United States. It is organised by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and has crowned state champions across four divisions since 2008. The 2025 IHSA Boys Basketball State Championship saw four state champions crowned, all hailing from Chicagoland, including DePaul College Prep, who won their third consecutive title.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Illinois High School Boys Basketball Championship |
| Year | 2025 |
| Location | State Farm Center, University of Illinois campus, Champaign |
| Winners | DePaul College Prep, Benet, Chicago Dyett, Chicago Hope Academy |
| Number of Winners | 4 |
| Number of Divisions | 4 (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A) |
| Tournament Organizer | Illinois High School Association (IHSA) |
| Tournament Type | Single elimination |
| Tournament Time | Spring |
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What You'll Learn
The 2025 IHSA Boys Basketball State Championship
DePaul College Prep secured its third consecutive state championship title, defeating Brother Rice with a score of 33-4. Western Illinois recruit Makai Kvamme led DePaul with 16 points, all scored in the fourth quarter and overtime, along with nine rebounds and four assists. Brother Rice's Citadel recruit Marco Gonzales scored a game-high 24 points, earning their first state trophy.
Benet from Lisle, a suburb of Chicago, won their first state championship after multiple near misses. They defeated Warren, with Edvardas Stasys, Benet's 6-foot-7 sophomore, blocking the inbound pass with 0.3 seconds left on the clock. Warren's Jaxson Davis had two chances to win the game in the final 30 seconds, but both attempts were defended by Benet's Mac Doyle.
Chicago Dyett and Chicago Hope Academy also became first-time state champions, with Dyett pulling away in the fourth quarter with an 11-0 run. Jaden McKinnon led Dyett with 17 points. The tournament crowned four state champions, all hailing from Chicagoland, showcasing the basketball talent and spirit of the region.
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The tournament format
The Illinois High School Boys Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held annually in the spring in the United States. Organized by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), the tournament has gone through several iterations since its inception in 1908.
From 1908 to 1971, the tournament was a single competition open to nearly all high schools in Illinois. In 1972, a significant change was introduced, dividing the tournament into two divisions, Class A and Class AA, based on school size. This format ensured that schools of similar sizes competed against each other, creating a more level playing field.
In the two-class system, each class featured 8 super-sectional games, leading to 16 sectionals and 64 regionals. The winners of these super-sectional games advanced to the state tournament, where they were randomly assigned to play each other in quarterfinal matches. The winners of the quarterfinals moved on to the semifinals, with the semifinal losers playing for third place, and the semifinal winners competing for the coveted state championship title. The tournaments for Class A and Class AA were held on separate weekends to accommodate the large number of participating schools.
Over time, the tournament format evolved further. In 2008, the IHSA introduced four separate divisions: 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A, with the larger schools falling into the higher divisions. Under this four-class system, teams are assigned to a class based on student population, with adjustments made for single-gender schools and schools that are not four-year high schools.
In addition to the on-court competitions, the IHSA has enhanced the tournament experience with ancillary events. Since 1996, the March Madness Experience has been set up at the Peoria Civic Center, featuring interactive games, skill challenges, and broadcasts of the ongoing games for fans to enjoy. Furthermore, the IHSA added a three-point contest and a slam dunk contest, collectively called "The Happening," to coincide with the boys' basketball state series, providing even more excitement and showcasing the athletes' skills.
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The Happening
The Illinois High School Boys Basketball Championship, organised by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), is a single-elimination tournament held annually in spring in the United States. In 1992, the IHSA introduced "The Happening", a three-point contest and a slam dunk contest, to the boys' basketball state series. The state level of each contest is held on the Thursday evening before the respective class' state semifinals, culminating in a "King of the Hill" contest among the four class champions to crown the overall winner.
The three-point contest commences at the beginning of the regional tournaments, while the slam dunk contest does not have any preliminaries before the Thursday competition of the week of the state finals. Participants in the slam dunk contest are nominated by their coaches from regional or sectional tournaments, and those who are willing to participate advance to the state preliminaries.
The winners of the 8 super-sectional games in each class advance to the state tournament. On the Friday of the state tournament, the 8 winners are randomly assigned to play each other in quarterfinal games. The winners proceed to the semifinals, which are played the next day. The semifinal losers compete for third place in the early evening, while the semifinal winners compete for the state championship in the evening.
In addition to the on-court activities, the IHSA has organised an interactive event called the March Madness Experience at the Peoria Civic Center since 1996. This 100,000-square-foot exhibit hall features interactive games and skill challenges for fans, as well as big-screen televisions broadcasting the ongoing court games.
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March Madness Experience
The Illinois High School Boys Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held annually in spring in the United States. The tournament, organised by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), was the first to be called "March Madness", with the moniker first used in 1939.
Since 1996, the IHSA has set up an interactive event at the Peoria Civic Center called the March Madness Experience. This event is held during the State Championship Tournament and includes interactive games and skill challenges for fans to participate in. The 100,000-square-foot (9,300 sq. m) Exhibit Hall is equipped with big-screen televisions, allowing fans to watch the games live and follow radio and television broadcasts. The first weekend of the tournament also hosts the state high school championship for wheelchair basketball, with teams composed of high school students, not necessarily from the same school.
The March Madness Experience opens on the Thursday of each week of the State Championship Tournament and runs throughout the tournament. The tournament itself has undergone several format changes over the years. From 1908 to 1971, it was a single tournament for all high schools in Illinois. In 1972, it was divided into two divisions (A and AA) based on school size, and in 2008, it further expanded to four separate divisions (1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A) with the largest schools falling into the latter categories.
The IHSA also includes a three-point contest and a slam dunk contest, collectively called "The Happening", which was introduced in 1992. Each class crowns a champion in these contests, and after the Class 3A and 4A champions are decided, there is a final "King of the Hill" contest to determine the overall champion. The girls' basketball tournament is organised similarly, but it begins two weeks before the boys' tournament.
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The 2008 division changes
The Illinois High School Boys Basketball Championship, organised by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), has undergone several format changes since its inception. From 1908 to 1971, it was a single tournament that included nearly all high schools in Illinois.
However, in 1972, a significant change was made, dividing the tournament into two divisions: Class A and Class AA, based on school size. This change allowed for more inclusive participation and competition among schools of varying sizes. Each class had its own set of 8 super-sectional games, 16 sectionals, and 64 regionals, with the winners advancing to the state tournament.
In 2008, the tournament evolved further, introducing four separate divisions: 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A, with 4A representing the larger schools. This four-class system ensured a more balanced playing field by taking into account the student population of each school, while also making adjustments for single-gender schools and schools that are not four-year high schools.
The IHSA has also enhanced the tournament experience over the years, introducing events like "The Happening" in 1992, which included a three-point contest and a slam dunk contest, adding excitement and showcasing the skills of the participants beyond the traditional gameplay.
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Frequently asked questions
DePaul College Prep won its third consecutive state championship, with Western Illinois recruit Makai Kvamme scoring all of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Chicago Dyett, Chicago Hope Academy, and Benet also won state championships. All four state champions hailed from Chicagoland.
The tournament is a single-elimination tournament divided into four separate divisions (1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A being the larger schools). Each division has its own champion, and there is a final "King of the Hill" contest among the four division champions to crown the overall winner.
The Illinois High School Boys Basketball Championship has been held annually since 1908. From 1908 to 1971, it was a single tournament for all high schools in Illinois. In 1972, it was divided into two divisions (A and AA), and in 2008, it transitioned to the current four-division format.
